Dimmer for headlights.



R. W. CLARK.

' DIMMBR FOR HEADLIGHTS. urmouron FILED mm. a, 1909.

Patented June 1,1909.

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iro'az'z whom it may concern: I 1

RIcHAno WORTHINGTONTILARK. or FREMONT. 01110.

Dimer. son HEADLIGHTS.

. Be it known that I, RICHARD W. CLARK, a

jci' tiizen' of the United States, residing at Fremont,jm the'coun'ty of Sandusky and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usef'ul Dimmer for Headlights, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention is a device to be used in connection with the headlight'of interurban electric cars, by means of which the rays of light may be dimmed'when the car is passing,

through city streets.

The object of the resent invention is to provide a device of t is kind which can be readily applied to the ordinary electric headlights now in use, and also to provide the device with means for displaying the name of the operating company or other information.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dimmer which throws a dim light straight ahead, and-also one in which a portion of the rays of light are left unobstructed, I

and thrown downwardly on the track so that the motorman may observe the condition thereof.

With the foregoing objects in view the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter de scribed and claimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention.. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof. In the drawings, 5 denotes the casing of an electric headlight of that kind employed on electric or other cars, and 6 is the glass door thereof through which the rays of light are thrown by the reflector. I have not illustrated the lamp nor the reflector as they form no part of this invention, the latter be- 1 ing constructed so that itmaybe applied to any ordinary electric headlight.

The dimmer comprises a plate 7 of sheet metal,- or other suitable opaque material so that when placed in front of the door 6, the rays of light will be interrupted. The plate is circular, or of any other shape to correspond tothe outline ofthe door 6, and it is hung on 8. lug 8 secured to' the casing 5, and 9 attached to the plate. Inorder that t e rays of light may not be entirely interrupted, the plate 7 is v provided with a plurality of perforations 10.

hese perforations are arranged in a group extending horizontally in a straight line across the plate below the horizontal median Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed'February8,i1909. Serial No. 476,789.

Patented June 1, 1909 line thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. By means of these perforations, the rays of light from the lamp are dimmed or subdued.

Below the group of perforations 10, the

plate 7 has an opening 11 from the upper end of which projects a deflector plate 12. This plate is secured to the plate 7 in any suitable manner, and extends forwardly therefrom, and is also inclined downwardly, so that the rays of light passing through the opening 11 wil be thrown on the track, the inclination of the plate 12 being such, that the rays are throwna suitable distance in front of the car. The rays of light passing through the opening 11, are not dimmed, and a owerful light is therefore thrown on the trac a suitable distance ahead of the car which enables the motorman to observe the condition thereof. The rays of light assing through the erforations .10 are t rown straight ahead. .Above the perforations 10, thelate 7 has an opening 13 in which is mounte a slide 14 comprising a plate in which are cut letters 15 which constitute a sign indicating whether the car is 'a local, limlted, or s ecial. It is obvious that the sign may displii any other information. The plate 14 is a so opaque, and the openings 15 forming the letters of the sign are covered by a sheet 16 of trans arent or translucent material such as cel uloid,

indicatingthe name of the o erating'com- 1 Early. Of course, any other in ormation may e displayed. The openings forming these letters, are also covered by a transparent or translucent sheet 18+ 4 By the construction herein described; the dimmer is also made to serveas an illuminated sign, the light visiblethrough the translucent or transparent sheets covering the o enings 15 and 17 forming the letters thereoi The sheets may be of any desired color. It will be understood that the device is to v be used only when the full rays of the headli ht are objectionable or unnecessary, \as W entire car is passinqthrough a town or city. Outside the city t 1e dimmer will be removed, in order that the headlight will be entirely unobstructed.

The dimmer is extremely sim 1e in construction, and therefore-can be 0 'ea ly produced. It can also be readily applie to any ordinary headlight, and it effectually serves the purpose for which it is desigxned. The openings 10 provide enough lig t for city traffic, and by the 0 ening 11, and the delleetor 12, a beam 0 light is thrown downwardly on the track, and the same is illuminated sufficientl for the motorman to observe the conditlon thereof What I claim is.

1. A dimmer for headlights comprising an opaque plate havin an 0 eni ng, and aperforated portion, an a sli e mounted in said opening, said slide being provided with open- 1 ings fdrming the letters of an illuminated 2. A dimmer for headlights comprising an opaque plate having a group of perforatlons extending horizontally across its face below the horizontal median line thereof, and said plate having below said group of perforations an opening, and a deflector secured to the plate above said'opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed -my signature in the presence of two witnesses. I

RICHARD WOlt'llllNGTON CLARK. Witnesses:

H. C. DE HAN, BERT HoLMEs'. 

